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2020 Jeep Compass problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2020 Jeep Compass has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 143owner complaints
- 3crash reports
- 2fire reports
- 13%fail the UK MOT
143 complaints, against an average of 208 for the other 14 Jeep Compass model years.
Every Jeep Compass model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2020 Jeep Compass?
The components named most often in the 143 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2020 Jeep Compass owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 143 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2020 Jeep Compass stall, lose power or shut off while driving?29 owners · 20.3%
- Why does my 2020 Jeep Compass overheat?17 owners · 11.9%
- Why does the auto start-stop system act up on my 2020 Jeep Compass?15 owners · 10.5%
- Why won't my 2020 Jeep Compass start?13 owners · 9.1%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2020 Jeep Compass?10 owners · 7%
- Why is my 2020 Jeep Compass burning or losing oil?5 owners · 3.5%
- Why does the backup camera not work on my 2020 Jeep Compass?5 owners · 3.5%
Has the 2020 Jeep Compass been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer: Linkages Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500, 1500 Classic and Jeep Compass vehicles. The windshield wiper arm or arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to not operate properly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.
Risk: Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W25.
Is the 2020 Jeep Compass recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSA2024 Jeep Renegade and Compass PHEV 12V cable connection
Risk: On certain vehicles the under-seat intermediate connection or the rear connection to the Integrated Dual Charging Module (IDCM) may not be tightened to the proper torque which may cause overheating of the terminal with risk of thermal incident to surrounding parts.
Fix: Check the conformity of the fastener torque on the 12V cable connection and if required replacement of the cable.
UK DVSAIncorrect tyre size data on Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
Risk: Affected vehicles may display incorrect tyre size information on the Certificate of Conformity (CoC).
Fix: The CoC must be replaced.
EU Safety GateThe side airbag inflatable curtain on the driver and passenger side of the vehicle may not be connected and do not function as intended.This can increase the risk of injury when triggered in the event of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe hydraulic control unit (HCU) of the integrated braking system (IBS) presents a defect.This can result in the reduction of braking assistance and loss of ABS functionality leading to an increased risk of accident and therefore risk of injuries to the occupants of the vehicle.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe head joint of the windscreen wipers can be improperly formed.This could impair the functioning of the wipers, increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2020 Jeep Compass fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2020, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2020 Jeep Compass owners report?
12 of the 143 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Carvana falsifying 150 inspection on tie rods that's having issue with two different vehicles on 2020 jeep compass and 2021 jeep compass
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. While driving for 5–10 minutes at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated, and a "Pressure Overheating" message was displayed. The Automatic Emergency Braking feature activated. The contact called roadside assistance and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the valve cover gasket, spark plug, and battery. The failure persisted. The vehicle was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic, who checked the cooling system, performed a…
My 2020 Jeep Compass develops significant shaking and vibration when I apply the brakes while traveling above approximately 70 mph. The vibration affects the vehicle’s stability and makes me concerned about maintaining control and stopping safely at highway speeds. The vehicle was inspected and serviced by an authorized Jeep dealership after I reported the shaking. The dealership identified problems involving the inner tie rods and steering system. Before the repair, I specifically questioned whether the brake rotors could be contributing to the shaking. The dealership assured me that it was…
My start/stop battery keeps dying , causing my regular battery to die !
I drove myself and my passenger to our destination without issue. After the vehicle was parked for approximately three hours, I started it and drove toward the exit lane leading to the main road. I stopped completely before exiting and was traveling approximately 10 mph as I crossed toward the leftmost turning lane. Suddenly, the dashboard displayed a “High Coolant Temperature” warning, the check engine light illuminated, and the accelerator pedal became resistant/unresponsive. The vehicle slowed to a stop and the engine completely shut off. Without me shifting the transmission out of Drive or…
Within the first month of ownership I began hearing a noise from the right front of the vehicle consistent with a brake or suspension issue. I reported this to the selling dealer repeatedly during that first month; it was not resolved. The noise continued and worsened over the following year, eventually also affecting the right rear. At approximately 20,000 miles, an independent licensed inspection mechanic found that the right front inner tie rod required replacement due to significant wear, and the right rear wheel bearing also required replacement. The vehicle failed state safety inspection…
Vehicle shuts off randomly. Restarts after stopping but it’s consistent as if the car over heated yet the coolant temperature reads 194-200
My 2020 Jeep Compass experiences sudden, unexpected engine shut-offs while driving. The engine loses power and stalls without warning, and shortly afterward the dashboard displays a 'Coolant Temperature Too High' warning. The vehicle has stalled while in motion, including at highway speeds, creating a serious safety hazard. After the stall, the vehicle restarts and behaves normally, but the problem has recurred multiple times. This matches the engine-stalling and coolant-temperature issue described in the NHTSA investigation of 2019–2020 Jeep Compass vehicles equipped with the 2.4-liter…
We have been without our 2020 JEEP since the end of February 2026 due to an engine issue (had the car only 6-7 months). The first company thought there might be coolant in the head gasket causing the issue. After our extended warranty company wanted the engine opened to confirm, we had to send the car to Precision Tune at the end of March to do this (prior place didn't open engines or repair them and recommended Precision Tune). Based on the engine codes of P0301 and P1061, as well how the car started, Precision Tune knew that the multi air actuator had failed. We both kept asking the extended…
The car suddenly would not accelerate over 20 miles per hour when I was driving on a busy road. The car has made clunking noises whenever I accelerate since I bought it 6 months ago. There is a recall for other 2020 Jeep Compass Latitudes that would explain this problem (W48/NHTSA 20E-037) but my VIN is not included in the recall. I think that this is a mistake.
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. After the first failure, the contact waited for a while before restarting the vehicle and then drove to a dealer. Despite the failure, the contact was informed that no defect was found in the vehicle. During the second failure, the contact stated that a high coolant temperature message had flashed on the instrument panel. As a result of the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was provided the same information when the…
The vehicle was in motion going 40 MPH when the dashboard displayed high coolant temp. The dashboard continued to flash other warnings such as check engine and oil change required. Then, the emergency brake light was on, engine light, and oil light. This caused the vehicle to lose total power in the accelerator and partial power in the brakes. The event led my vehicle to cause a complete stop in the middle of a highway. To the resolve the issue, I powered off the engine and restarted the vehicle. After powering the vehicle back on, all was normal other than the check engine light was still on…
2020 Jeep Compass: questions owners ask
Is the 2020 Jeep Compass reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 143 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Jeep Compass; the most common categories were engine (79, 55.2%), electrical system (66, 46.2%), power train (29, 20.3%). There is 1 safety recall. 3 complaints mention a crash, 2 mention a fire, 3 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Jeep Compass?
Across 143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (55.2% of complaints), electrical system (46.2% of complaints), power train (20.3% of complaints), steering (5.6% of complaints), service brakes (4.9% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2020 Jeep Compass have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2020 Jeep Compass; the most recent (campaign 20V208000, 2020-04-09) concerns Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer: Linkages. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2020 Jeep Compass stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
29 of the 143 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Jeep Compass (20.3%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "My 2020 Jeep Compass experiences sudden, unexpected engine shut-offs while driving. The engine loses power and stalls without warning, and shortly afterward the dashboard displays a 'Coolant Temperature Too High' warning." (NHTSA complaint 11742922, June 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 Jeep Compass overheat?
17 of the 143 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Jeep Compass (11.9%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "On December 9th, my Jeep compass caught fire in Tyson’s corner parking lot (1750 Tysons BLVD). The fire department believes it came from the engine. No warning signs such as engine lights or temperature overheating prior." (NHTSA complaint 11705159, December 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the auto start-stop system act up on my 2020 Jeep Compass?
15 of the 143 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Jeep Compass (10.5%) describe problems with the automatic start-stop system. One owner wrote: "Auto start stop unavailable service Auto start /stop system shows up. It has killed 1 main battery and 2 auxiliary batteries but there is no stored messages so dealership can not figure out the problem." (NHTSA complaint 11644686, February 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why won't my 2020 Jeep Compass start?
13 of the 143 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Jeep Compass (9.1%) describe the car failing to start. One owner wrote: "I tried the auto start on the fob car would not start I tried to the push start nothing again . Did get warning coolant temp high Had to tow car They are investigating" (NHTSA complaint 11708586, January 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2020 Jeep Compass?
10 of the 143 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Jeep Compass (7%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "I was at a stop light and car just went dead. Before going dead a warning of “High Coolant Temperature” popped up and engine light came on and it went dead. Car would not start again and was towed to dealership." (NHTSA complaint 11540912, August 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is my 2020 Jeep Compass burning or losing oil?
5 of the 143 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Jeep Compass (3.5%) describe excessive oil consumption or oil leaks. One owner wrote: "Engine consumes oil rapidly. The touchscreen does not work and shuts off after start-up. Without the touchscreen, the rearview camera does not work, making this problem one of safety." (NHTSA complaint 11547500, September 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the backup camera not work on my 2020 Jeep Compass?
5 of the 143 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Jeep Compass (3.5%) describe the rearview or backup camera failing or showing a blank screen. One owner wrote: "Unknown. Vehicle has been inspected prior for electrical issues while under warranty. Dealer claims no issue. Backup camera does not work, vehicle temperature settings are not accessible on screen." (NHTSA complaint 11759558, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Compass
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2020 only.